Ronon/Jennifer
Title: Ronon Has a Tea Party
Author: finding_jay
Pairing: Mild Ronon/Jennifer
Rating: PG
Warnings: Tea parties with imaginary cake.
Summary: Ronon is forced to baby-sit while the rest of his team are doing things that don't involve five year olds, princesses or tea parties with beady-eyed animals.
Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate Atlantis.
Notes: Please don't ask how this came to be. Just accept that it did and fear it.
Ronon doesn’t mind kids. Okay, that’s not completely true, he actually kind of likes kids. He likes Atlantis, too. Atlantis means food and a place to sleep and sometimes, if Rodney hasn’t gone and completely fucked up the heating system, it’s actually warm in winter. Not that it matters much since it’s usually quite mild all year round but it’s the point that counts. But he doesn’t like Atlantis so much and he doesn’t like kids so much that he’d actually go and baby-sit a kid just so Atlantis (and the people there) can make a deal. Isn’t that more of a Teyla or a Sheppard job? Ronon is tall and scary and if he shakes his head he’s been told he looks like a lion. But Jen’s trying not to laugh and she’s going red in the face and when she bites her lip like that, well, he gets a bit pathetic.
‘She’s gonna love you,’ she says and in a strained tone that says she’s going to burst out laughing the moment he turns his back.
‘She’s five.’
‘So?’
‘I’m meant to look like the thing that hides under her bed and grabs her ankle at night.’
‘A child molester?’ Jen asks, and her smile falters for just a moment.
Ronon staggers. ‘No! No, no, one of those… you know, those monsters.’
Jen snorts and doubles over. ‘A boogieman?’
‘Yeah, that thing.’
When she manages to right herself, she shakes her head and pats his arm. Really, she should know by now that that’s a sure-fire way to get Ronon to do whatever she wants.
‘It’s just for the afternoon. While Sheppard’s making the deal.’
‘Why don’t you do it then?’
‘Because I’m busy immunising the rest of the kids in the city and the poor princess is afraid I’m going to jab her with a needle again. Besides, she seems well behaved and if she starts hollering… well, I’m sure you could hide under her bed and grab her ankle during her nap.’ And with the she kisses him on the cheek and gets ready to start poking a hundred unhappy children with needles.
It’s cruel. It’s honestly downright cruel and when Ronon figures out just what he did to deserve this job, he’s going to knock Sheppard out.
*
The kid is five, maybe six. She’s short and chubby and dressed in some fluffy dress that looks ridiculous on her with its lace and ruffles and big gigantic bow that sits in the middle of it. Ronon feels as though he should be sorry for her but he’s too busy feeling sorry for himself.
A man steps forward who Ronon recognises to be the king or ruler or whatever title he had decreed upon himself. Ronon doesn’t care.
‘Mr Dex, this is my daughter, Peregrinus. Peregrinus, this is Ronon Dex. He’ll be taking care of your this afternoon.’
The poor frilly child even has a ridiculous name. She steps forward and curtsies with a gap-toothed smile. Ronon arches a brow but doesn’t do much else. He’s learnt that when he’s confused about what to do, doing nothing seems to be the best option.
‘Mr Dex,’ she says in an annoying high voice, ‘I do hope you enjoy yourself during your stay here.’
He grunts. It’s worked in the past and seems to work now.
The king/ruler/whatever claps his hands together and smiles. ‘You two are going to get along stupendously! I’ll return with your team before the sun sets, Mr Dex. Do help yourself to what we have. I know I’ll be helping myself to what you have!’
And before Ronon can question his intentions, the man was off with a flap of his ridiculous burgundy velvet coat.
He turns to unfortunately named Peregrinus. She’s looking up at him in contempt, her lips pursed and cheeks puffed out.
‘I don’t like you. You’re ugly. And your friend is fat.’
Ronon arches his brow again.
‘You touch me and I’ll kick you.’
He arches his brow higher.
‘In the face.’ And with that, she turns on her heel and storms from the room, her dress flouncing in a ridiculous ruffle-y way. Well, he has to give her points for getting straight to the point.
He’s willing to leave her alone, too. If he is allowed to make himself at home, as the king/ruler/whatever had said, then he wants to poke around the kitchen. He doesn’t want to starve. That’d be bad for both sides. Even so, it would also be bad to let little Peregrinus get in trouble and get hurt, especially in the first five minutes of her being under her care. And just how far can the kid go? She’s up to his knee!
He finds her in what he supposes is meant to be the library. The stack of books that line the shelves sort of gives it away. She’s sitting in an over-stuffed chair, cross-legged and a book in her lap. She’s obviously not reading it- it’s upside down for a start- but she’s making a damn good effort to pretend she is.
‘I’m busy,’ she says, even when Ronon doesn’t say anything. She looks up and does the puffy-cheek thing again. ‘Go away.’
‘Can’t,’ he replies, and the girl looks at him as though shocked he could speak. ‘Your dad wants me to stay.’
‘My father knows I’m old enough to take care of myself,’ she sniffs, her nose in the air. ‘You can go. I don’t need somebody to baby-sit me. I’m not a baby, I’m five. Almost two hands to count on.’
Ronon eyes the window. It’s winter on this planet and the sky is clouded over with the hint of rain on the way. He hopes that his team don’t get caught in the upcoming storm, though seeing Jen wet with her shirt sticking to her and asking to cuddle up for warmth-
He shakes his head and turns his attention to Peregrinus. Her eyes are firmly fixed on the book but he has a feeling she’s watching him all the same.
‘What if the Wraith come?’
‘They won’t take me, I’m royalty.’
‘Doesn’t matter to them, you’ll just taste better.’
Peregrinus’ eyes flicker for just a moment. Ronon manages to hold down the smirk that wants to so desperately fix itself on his face.
‘They’ll zap you up and force you into a gooey cocoon with the rest of your friends and family.’
She lifts her eyes from the book and eyes him. She looks as though she doesn’t quite believe him. It’s started to rain outside and Ronon can’t help but feel a little proud at his timing.
‘And when they get hungry and want a snack, they’ll go for you first. Because you’re little. And… royal.’
‘You’re lying!’ she snaps, dropping the book to the floor. It hits with a heavy thud just as a bolt of lightening lights up the room. Peregrinus jumps and pulls a knee to her chin.
‘No. I’ve seen it. The like the kids. Because they’re small. And little. And go down easily.’
‘Nuh-uh. You’re lying! You’re a mean old man and you’re lying to me!’ She draws in a deep breath and just before she can let off an ear-piercing scream, Ronon steps forward, making sure his boot hits the ground loudly.
‘Hey! You’re just going to alert the Wraith to your presence. I can try to fight ‘em off but seeing as I’m a mean old man, I might just let them get you.’
She’s clutching the chair that she hasn’t moved from. Staring at him, looking a little pouty and now a lot scared, she shakes her head. ‘You wouldn’t do that. You told me you have to look after me because my dad told you to.’
‘Yeah, I said that, but maybe I just want to kill your dad and steal his crown. And then I’ll leave you for the Wraith.’
Peregrinus’ face goes red and her tiny hands clench into fists. She throws herself from the couch and stomps over to him. ‘Stop it, you’re scaring me!’
Ronon shrugs and looks back over to the window. The rain’s still coming down and another bolt of lightening flashes across the sky. It’s followed by crashing thunder and Peregrinus jumps once more.
‘You have to make it up to me.’
‘Huh?’
‘You scared me and now you have to make it up to me.’
‘I thought you didn’t like me.’
Peregrinus sniffs. ‘I don’t. But you still have to make it up to me.’
Tilting his head, he squints down at her. ‘How?’
The grin on her face is pure evil. Pure, five-year-old evil. ‘I know a way.’
*
Peregrinus’ room is about as fluffy as her dress. The curtains are made of burgundy lace and velvet and her bedcover has all these little embroidered flowers all over it. It’s massive and far too large for a five-year-old girl. There are stuffed animals wherever he looks, and they’re all staring at him with their beady black eyes. He wonders how much trouble he’d get in if he were to perhaps and go and skewer them with his knife.
‘Mr Periwinkle, would you care for more tea?’
Ronon shudders and watches as Peregrinus pretends to pour tea in one of the beady-eyed bears cup. His legs are numb from the waist down and his back hurts, but he’s just glad Peregrinus hasn’t forced him into a frilly pink dress.
‘Mr Dex, you haven’t touched your tea.’
Squinting an eye, he stares down at her. He’s sure the teacup will shatter if he so much as picks it up.
‘I don’t like tea, thank you.’
‘This is a tea party. At tea parties you drink tea.’
‘Yeah, but- ’
‘You drink tea.’
Eyeing the tiny porcelain cup, Ronon awkwardly picks it up by the handle between his thumb and forefinger. Pretending to sip from the cup, he sets it quickly back down. If that wasn’t the most humiliating thing he’s ever done, Ronon isn’t sure what is.
‘Would you care for more tea, Mr Dex?’
‘I’m fi- ’
‘Would you care for more tea, Mr Dex?’
Ronon shoves the cup over at her. Good-naturedly, she pretends to pour more tea and hands the cup back over to him before returning to talking to her stuffed animals. He stares at the table, willing for some cake or something like that to just appear. The storm outside has since ceased but it hasn’t done anything to raise his moods. Peregrinus happily chirps to her stuffed animals before turning her attention back to him.
‘So, tell me, Mr Dex,’ she says, in what Ronon presumes to be her best “grown-up” voice, ‘what do you do?’
‘Do?’ he repeats.
‘What’s your job?’
‘I don’t usually baby-sit.’
Peregrinus drops her cup and looks at him. ‘You’re not really good at the whole talking thing, are you?’
‘You seem to be doing enough talking for both of us,’ Ronon replies, poking the delicate teacup.
She blinks at him and lets out a small harrumph. Ronon imagines that Rodney at Peregrinus’ age was much the same, only perhaps less annoying (but with the same amount of tea parties).
‘You’re not a very fun guest.’
Ronon shrugs. ‘Sorry.’ He guesses it would be a bad idea to retort that maybe she’s not a very good host. She’s only five.
And then she starts to cry. Big fat fluffy tears rolling down poor unfortunately named Peregrinus’ five-year-old princess cheeks.
‘Oh. Oh. Don’t cry, don’t cry.’
This really is more of a Teyla job. Ronon’s certain of that, especially when Peregrinus starts doing this weird hiccupping-cough-crying thing. Ronon reaches over and awkwardly picks up the teacup. Peregrinus looks up at him, her face all blotchy and confused as he clumsily pretends to drink from it.
‘Good tea?’ he tries.
She sniffs and shakes her head. ‘You’re no good at this game.’ Her lower lip wobbles and she looks as though she’s definitely going to start wailing.
Looking about the tiny table, he holds out a plate. There’s nothing on it but there’s nothing in the teacup either and if there’s one thing he doesn’t want it’s a crying, angry five-year-old princess.
‘Cake?’
‘What?’
Ronon waves the very empty plate. ‘Cake? It’s, uh, chocolate.’
‘What’s chocolate?’
‘It’s… it’s good. It’s sweet. It’s good. Try.’
She reaches over and takes a pretend piece of cake. Acting as though she were chewing it, she nods.
‘Good?’
‘Yes.’
Ronon smirks. ‘You shouldn’t talk with your mouth full.’
She makes a show of wiping her mouth and grins at him. ‘Good cake!’
*
The rest of his team return with Jen halfway into the evening, the townsfolk freshly immunised. The storm has since cleared but the air is still thick with moisture and it’s difficult to breathe, even inside, away from the heat that has set in.
Jen finds Ronon still in Peregrinus’ room. The tea party is still in full swing, though Ronon’s back is still hurting and his legs are still numb from sitting cross-legged. She laughs when she sees them, a surprised, entertained laugh. Ronon lifts his head, shocked to find her. Biting her lower lip, she puts her hand over her mouth, trying to stop herself when Ronon frowns.
‘What?’
With a smile, Jen shakes her head; her cheeks are still red from her laughter. ‘Nothing. Did you two have fun today?’
Peregrinus lifts her head from where she sits. ‘I invited Ronon to a tea party. He accepted my invitation.’
‘Really?’ Jen asks, resting against the doorframe.
Ronon finally manages to pull himself to his feet though he’s a little shaky as the blood flow returns. He forces himself to stay standing despite the fact his legs are threatening to buckle out from under him- he has to retain some dignity. Peregrinus follows him, that ridiculous fluffy dress rustling as she moves.
‘Is my dad home?’ she asks Jen in that strange, polite tone that sounds so odd coming from someone her age.
‘He’s downstairs.’
Peregrinus totters around them and out the door. After she’s out of earshot, Jen turns to Ronon, unable to keep the grin off her face any longer.
‘So did you two have fun?’
‘We had a tea party.’
Smirking, Jen squeezes his arm and starts from the room, Ronon following her. ‘Tea parties can be fun.’
‘I’m not five.’
‘And yet you still managed to sit down and have a good time- oh, stop pouting.’
‘I’m not pouting!’ Ronon exclaims, mock-offended. ‘I’m scowling.’
‘Oh, how terrifying,’ Jen says with a snicker as she slips her hand into Ronon’s, his fingers wrapping around her own. She’s silent for a moment as they navigate their ways through the clammy stone corridors. ‘So what’s it going to take to get you into my room for a tea party?’
He turns to her with a wry grin and pinches her side. ‘I could think of a few things,’ he says. As usual, it earns him a slap on his arm, but somehow he thinks it’s worth it seeing as Jen’s parties are a lot more fun seeing as she actually brings the whipped cream and her ruffled dresses are typically more revealing.
Author: finding_jay
Pairing: Mild Ronon/Jennifer
Rating: PG
Warnings: Tea parties with imaginary cake.
Summary: Ronon is forced to baby-sit while the rest of his team are doing things that don't involve five year olds, princesses or tea parties with beady-eyed animals.
Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate Atlantis.
Notes: Please don't ask how this came to be. Just accept that it did and fear it.
Ronon doesn’t mind kids. Okay, that’s not completely true, he actually kind of likes kids. He likes Atlantis, too. Atlantis means food and a place to sleep and sometimes, if Rodney hasn’t gone and completely fucked up the heating system, it’s actually warm in winter. Not that it matters much since it’s usually quite mild all year round but it’s the point that counts. But he doesn’t like Atlantis so much and he doesn’t like kids so much that he’d actually go and baby-sit a kid just so Atlantis (and the people there) can make a deal. Isn’t that more of a Teyla or a Sheppard job? Ronon is tall and scary and if he shakes his head he’s been told he looks like a lion. But Jen’s trying not to laugh and she’s going red in the face and when she bites her lip like that, well, he gets a bit pathetic.
‘She’s gonna love you,’ she says and in a strained tone that says she’s going to burst out laughing the moment he turns his back.
‘She’s five.’
‘So?’
‘I’m meant to look like the thing that hides under her bed and grabs her ankle at night.’
‘A child molester?’ Jen asks, and her smile falters for just a moment.
Ronon staggers. ‘No! No, no, one of those… you know, those monsters.’
Jen snorts and doubles over. ‘A boogieman?’
‘Yeah, that thing.’
When she manages to right herself, she shakes her head and pats his arm. Really, she should know by now that that’s a sure-fire way to get Ronon to do whatever she wants.
‘It’s just for the afternoon. While Sheppard’s making the deal.’
‘Why don’t you do it then?’
‘Because I’m busy immunising the rest of the kids in the city and the poor princess is afraid I’m going to jab her with a needle again. Besides, she seems well behaved and if she starts hollering… well, I’m sure you could hide under her bed and grab her ankle during her nap.’ And with the she kisses him on the cheek and gets ready to start poking a hundred unhappy children with needles.
It’s cruel. It’s honestly downright cruel and when Ronon figures out just what he did to deserve this job, he’s going to knock Sheppard out.
*
The kid is five, maybe six. She’s short and chubby and dressed in some fluffy dress that looks ridiculous on her with its lace and ruffles and big gigantic bow that sits in the middle of it. Ronon feels as though he should be sorry for her but he’s too busy feeling sorry for himself.
A man steps forward who Ronon recognises to be the king or ruler or whatever title he had decreed upon himself. Ronon doesn’t care.
‘Mr Dex, this is my daughter, Peregrinus. Peregrinus, this is Ronon Dex. He’ll be taking care of your this afternoon.’
The poor frilly child even has a ridiculous name. She steps forward and curtsies with a gap-toothed smile. Ronon arches a brow but doesn’t do much else. He’s learnt that when he’s confused about what to do, doing nothing seems to be the best option.
‘Mr Dex,’ she says in an annoying high voice, ‘I do hope you enjoy yourself during your stay here.’
He grunts. It’s worked in the past and seems to work now.
The king/ruler/whatever claps his hands together and smiles. ‘You two are going to get along stupendously! I’ll return with your team before the sun sets, Mr Dex. Do help yourself to what we have. I know I’ll be helping myself to what you have!’
And before Ronon can question his intentions, the man was off with a flap of his ridiculous burgundy velvet coat.
He turns to unfortunately named Peregrinus. She’s looking up at him in contempt, her lips pursed and cheeks puffed out.
‘I don’t like you. You’re ugly. And your friend is fat.’
Ronon arches his brow again.
‘You touch me and I’ll kick you.’
He arches his brow higher.
‘In the face.’ And with that, she turns on her heel and storms from the room, her dress flouncing in a ridiculous ruffle-y way. Well, he has to give her points for getting straight to the point.
He’s willing to leave her alone, too. If he is allowed to make himself at home, as the king/ruler/whatever had said, then he wants to poke around the kitchen. He doesn’t want to starve. That’d be bad for both sides. Even so, it would also be bad to let little Peregrinus get in trouble and get hurt, especially in the first five minutes of her being under her care. And just how far can the kid go? She’s up to his knee!
He finds her in what he supposes is meant to be the library. The stack of books that line the shelves sort of gives it away. She’s sitting in an over-stuffed chair, cross-legged and a book in her lap. She’s obviously not reading it- it’s upside down for a start- but she’s making a damn good effort to pretend she is.
‘I’m busy,’ she says, even when Ronon doesn’t say anything. She looks up and does the puffy-cheek thing again. ‘Go away.’
‘Can’t,’ he replies, and the girl looks at him as though shocked he could speak. ‘Your dad wants me to stay.’
‘My father knows I’m old enough to take care of myself,’ she sniffs, her nose in the air. ‘You can go. I don’t need somebody to baby-sit me. I’m not a baby, I’m five. Almost two hands to count on.’
Ronon eyes the window. It’s winter on this planet and the sky is clouded over with the hint of rain on the way. He hopes that his team don’t get caught in the upcoming storm, though seeing Jen wet with her shirt sticking to her and asking to cuddle up for warmth-
He shakes his head and turns his attention to Peregrinus. Her eyes are firmly fixed on the book but he has a feeling she’s watching him all the same.
‘What if the Wraith come?’
‘They won’t take me, I’m royalty.’
‘Doesn’t matter to them, you’ll just taste better.’
Peregrinus’ eyes flicker for just a moment. Ronon manages to hold down the smirk that wants to so desperately fix itself on his face.
‘They’ll zap you up and force you into a gooey cocoon with the rest of your friends and family.’
She lifts her eyes from the book and eyes him. She looks as though she doesn’t quite believe him. It’s started to rain outside and Ronon can’t help but feel a little proud at his timing.
‘And when they get hungry and want a snack, they’ll go for you first. Because you’re little. And… royal.’
‘You’re lying!’ she snaps, dropping the book to the floor. It hits with a heavy thud just as a bolt of lightening lights up the room. Peregrinus jumps and pulls a knee to her chin.
‘No. I’ve seen it. The like the kids. Because they’re small. And little. And go down easily.’
‘Nuh-uh. You’re lying! You’re a mean old man and you’re lying to me!’ She draws in a deep breath and just before she can let off an ear-piercing scream, Ronon steps forward, making sure his boot hits the ground loudly.
‘Hey! You’re just going to alert the Wraith to your presence. I can try to fight ‘em off but seeing as I’m a mean old man, I might just let them get you.’
She’s clutching the chair that she hasn’t moved from. Staring at him, looking a little pouty and now a lot scared, she shakes her head. ‘You wouldn’t do that. You told me you have to look after me because my dad told you to.’
‘Yeah, I said that, but maybe I just want to kill your dad and steal his crown. And then I’ll leave you for the Wraith.’
Peregrinus’ face goes red and her tiny hands clench into fists. She throws herself from the couch and stomps over to him. ‘Stop it, you’re scaring me!’
Ronon shrugs and looks back over to the window. The rain’s still coming down and another bolt of lightening flashes across the sky. It’s followed by crashing thunder and Peregrinus jumps once more.
‘You have to make it up to me.’
‘Huh?’
‘You scared me and now you have to make it up to me.’
‘I thought you didn’t like me.’
Peregrinus sniffs. ‘I don’t. But you still have to make it up to me.’
Tilting his head, he squints down at her. ‘How?’
The grin on her face is pure evil. Pure, five-year-old evil. ‘I know a way.’
*
Peregrinus’ room is about as fluffy as her dress. The curtains are made of burgundy lace and velvet and her bedcover has all these little embroidered flowers all over it. It’s massive and far too large for a five-year-old girl. There are stuffed animals wherever he looks, and they’re all staring at him with their beady black eyes. He wonders how much trouble he’d get in if he were to perhaps and go and skewer them with his knife.
‘Mr Periwinkle, would you care for more tea?’
Ronon shudders and watches as Peregrinus pretends to pour tea in one of the beady-eyed bears cup. His legs are numb from the waist down and his back hurts, but he’s just glad Peregrinus hasn’t forced him into a frilly pink dress.
‘Mr Dex, you haven’t touched your tea.’
Squinting an eye, he stares down at her. He’s sure the teacup will shatter if he so much as picks it up.
‘I don’t like tea, thank you.’
‘This is a tea party. At tea parties you drink tea.’
‘Yeah, but- ’
‘You drink tea.’
Eyeing the tiny porcelain cup, Ronon awkwardly picks it up by the handle between his thumb and forefinger. Pretending to sip from the cup, he sets it quickly back down. If that wasn’t the most humiliating thing he’s ever done, Ronon isn’t sure what is.
‘Would you care for more tea, Mr Dex?’
‘I’m fi- ’
‘Would you care for more tea, Mr Dex?’
Ronon shoves the cup over at her. Good-naturedly, she pretends to pour more tea and hands the cup back over to him before returning to talking to her stuffed animals. He stares at the table, willing for some cake or something like that to just appear. The storm outside has since ceased but it hasn’t done anything to raise his moods. Peregrinus happily chirps to her stuffed animals before turning her attention back to him.
‘So, tell me, Mr Dex,’ she says, in what Ronon presumes to be her best “grown-up” voice, ‘what do you do?’
‘Do?’ he repeats.
‘What’s your job?’
‘I don’t usually baby-sit.’
Peregrinus drops her cup and looks at him. ‘You’re not really good at the whole talking thing, are you?’
‘You seem to be doing enough talking for both of us,’ Ronon replies, poking the delicate teacup.
She blinks at him and lets out a small harrumph. Ronon imagines that Rodney at Peregrinus’ age was much the same, only perhaps less annoying (but with the same amount of tea parties).
‘You’re not a very fun guest.’
Ronon shrugs. ‘Sorry.’ He guesses it would be a bad idea to retort that maybe she’s not a very good host. She’s only five.
And then she starts to cry. Big fat fluffy tears rolling down poor unfortunately named Peregrinus’ five-year-old princess cheeks.
‘Oh. Oh. Don’t cry, don’t cry.’
This really is more of a Teyla job. Ronon’s certain of that, especially when Peregrinus starts doing this weird hiccupping-cough-crying thing. Ronon reaches over and awkwardly picks up the teacup. Peregrinus looks up at him, her face all blotchy and confused as he clumsily pretends to drink from it.
‘Good tea?’ he tries.
She sniffs and shakes her head. ‘You’re no good at this game.’ Her lower lip wobbles and she looks as though she’s definitely going to start wailing.
Looking about the tiny table, he holds out a plate. There’s nothing on it but there’s nothing in the teacup either and if there’s one thing he doesn’t want it’s a crying, angry five-year-old princess.
‘Cake?’
‘What?’
Ronon waves the very empty plate. ‘Cake? It’s, uh, chocolate.’
‘What’s chocolate?’
‘It’s… it’s good. It’s sweet. It’s good. Try.’
She reaches over and takes a pretend piece of cake. Acting as though she were chewing it, she nods.
‘Good?’
‘Yes.’
Ronon smirks. ‘You shouldn’t talk with your mouth full.’
She makes a show of wiping her mouth and grins at him. ‘Good cake!’
*
The rest of his team return with Jen halfway into the evening, the townsfolk freshly immunised. The storm has since cleared but the air is still thick with moisture and it’s difficult to breathe, even inside, away from the heat that has set in.
Jen finds Ronon still in Peregrinus’ room. The tea party is still in full swing, though Ronon’s back is still hurting and his legs are still numb from sitting cross-legged. She laughs when she sees them, a surprised, entertained laugh. Ronon lifts his head, shocked to find her. Biting her lower lip, she puts her hand over her mouth, trying to stop herself when Ronon frowns.
‘What?’
With a smile, Jen shakes her head; her cheeks are still red from her laughter. ‘Nothing. Did you two have fun today?’
Peregrinus lifts her head from where she sits. ‘I invited Ronon to a tea party. He accepted my invitation.’
‘Really?’ Jen asks, resting against the doorframe.
Ronon finally manages to pull himself to his feet though he’s a little shaky as the blood flow returns. He forces himself to stay standing despite the fact his legs are threatening to buckle out from under him- he has to retain some dignity. Peregrinus follows him, that ridiculous fluffy dress rustling as she moves.
‘Is my dad home?’ she asks Jen in that strange, polite tone that sounds so odd coming from someone her age.
‘He’s downstairs.’
Peregrinus totters around them and out the door. After she’s out of earshot, Jen turns to Ronon, unable to keep the grin off her face any longer.
‘So did you two have fun?’
‘We had a tea party.’
Smirking, Jen squeezes his arm and starts from the room, Ronon following her. ‘Tea parties can be fun.’
‘I’m not five.’
‘And yet you still managed to sit down and have a good time- oh, stop pouting.’
‘I’m not pouting!’ Ronon exclaims, mock-offended. ‘I’m scowling.’
‘Oh, how terrifying,’ Jen says with a snicker as she slips her hand into Ronon’s, his fingers wrapping around her own. She’s silent for a moment as they navigate their ways through the clammy stone corridors. ‘So what’s it going to take to get you into my room for a tea party?’
He turns to her with a wry grin and pinches her side. ‘I could think of a few things,’ he says. As usual, it earns him a slap on his arm, but somehow he thinks it’s worth it seeing as Jen’s parties are a lot more fun seeing as she actually brings the whipped cream and her ruffled dresses are typically more revealing.